OR Tambo Airport Vacancies: Jobs and How to Apply

Q: How do I apply for OR Tambo Airport vacancies?

There is no single OR Tambo jobs portal. Jobs at the airport are posted by several employers: Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) on its own careers site, airlines through their HR portals, ground handlers on their company sites, and retail and food tenants through general job boards. Apply directly on the employer's site against a specific vacancy before the closing date.

Q: Who are the biggest employers at OR Tambo Airport?

The main employers are ACSA (the airport operator), airlines such as South African Airways, FlySafair, British Airways, Emirates, and Kenya Airways, ground handlers such as Swissport and Menzies Aviation, cargo and freight operators, and retail and food tenants in the terminal buildings.

Q: What jobs are available at OR Tambo Airport?

Common OR Tambo roles include aircraft cleaners, ramp agents and marshals, baggage handlers, security officers, customer service agents, passenger services staff, retail and food workers, administration and HR roles, and technical maintenance positions. Entry level cleaning and baggage handling roles are the most frequently advertised.

Q: Does ACSA have a learnership at OR Tambo?

Yes. Airports Company South Africa periodically runs learnerships in technical, engineering, and aviation operations. These are advertised on the ACSA careers portal and require at least matric. Learnerships are competitive, so a complete and correct application submitted by the deadline is essential.

OR Tambo International Airport in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, is the busiest airport in Africa, and it employs thousands of people across dozens of companies. Because the airport is home to multiple employers, there is no single OR Tambo jobs portal: you need to identify which employer is hiring and apply directly on their site. This guide explains who hires at OR Tambo, which roles are available, and how to find and apply for vacancies.

Who hires at OR Tambo Airport

Jobs at OR Tambo are split across four categories of employer.

ACSA (Airports Company South Africa) operates the airport infrastructure and hires for technical, operational, commercial, and administrative roles. ACSA careers are posted on the official ACSA website.

Airlines post vacancies through their own HR portals. South African Airways, FlySafair, British Airways, Emirates, Kenya Airways, and other carriers recruit cabin crew, customer service agents, and ground operations staff separately.

Ground handlers and cargo operators such as Swissport South Africa, Menzies Aviation, and cargo terminals hire large numbers of ramp agents, baggage handlers, aircraft cleaners, and freight staff on a rolling basis.

Retail and food tenants in the terminal buildings hire sales assistants, cashiers, baristas, food preparation staff, and supervisors through general job boards and in store.

Most common OR Tambo Airport jobs

Aircraft cleaner (ground handling companies, high volume)
Ramp agent and baggage handler (Swissport, Menzies)
Security officer (airport security contractors, PSIRA grade required)
Customer service and check-in agent (airlines)
Passenger services representative
Retail sales assistant and cashier (terminal shops)
Food and beverage staff (restaurants and cafes in the terminal)
Administration, HR, and finance roles (ACSA and airlines)
Technical and maintenance roles (ACSA engineering department)

Entry level routes at OR Tambo

If you have matric and no aviation experience, the most accessible entry points are aircraft cleaning, general worker roles with ground handlers, and retail or food jobs in the terminal. These roles value reliability and a clean criminal record over previous airport experience. Security officer roles require a valid PSIRA Grade C or D certificate.

For ACSA learnerships, check the ACSA careers portal regularly and submit a complete application before the closing date. Learnerships attract high volumes of applications, so a tidy CV and a cover letter that explains your interest in aviation help.

How to apply

Identify which employer at OR Tambo is advertising the role you want.
Go directly to that employer's careers portal or job listing (ACSA, Swissport, or the specific airline or retailer).
Create a profile, upload your CV, and attach any required documents such as your matric certificate, PSIRA grade, or driver's licence.
Apply before the closing date and follow the instructions in the job post exactly.

No legitimate OR Tambo employer charges a fee to apply. If anyone asks you to pay to get a job at the airport, it is a scam.

Stand out with a short video introduction

For customer-facing roles such as passenger services, check-in, and retail, airport employers want to see that you communicate clearly and project confidence. A 30-second video on CazVid lets a recruiter see your communication before they call you.

Record a short clip: say your name, the role you are applying for, one relevant experience or skill, and why you want to work in aviation or at the airport. Keep it under a minute, use good lighting, and look at the camera. Browse open vacancies and apply with a video profile on the CazVid jobs page, or download the app at desktop.cazvid.app so employers can find you first.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for OR Tambo Airport vacancies? There is no single OR Tambo jobs portal. Apply directly on the hiring employer's site: ACSA for airport operator roles, the airline's HR portal for airline jobs, and Swissport or Menzies for ground handling roles. Apply before the closing date against a specific vacancy.

Who are the biggest employers at OR Tambo Airport? ACSA, airlines (South African Airways, FlySafair, British Airways, Emirates, Kenya Airways), ground handlers (Swissport, Menzies), cargo operators, and retail and food tenants in the terminal.

What jobs are available at OR Tambo Airport? Aircraft cleaners, ramp agents, baggage handlers, security officers, customer service agents, passenger services staff, retail and food workers, administration roles, and technical maintenance positions. Entry level cleaning and baggage handling are the most frequently advertised.

Does ACSA have a learnership at OR Tambo? Yes. ACSA periodically runs learnerships in technical, engineering, and aviation operations. These are advertised on the ACSA careers portal and require at least matric. Apply before the closing date with a complete application.

Looking to hire staff for your business? Post a vacancy and receive video applications on the CazVid app. For more job-seeking guides, visit the CazVid blog.